Marking apparatus for book covers



Aug. 24, 1937. E. HERTZBERG MARKING APPARATUS FOR BOOK COVERS Filed April 9, 1936 Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

the form of a box-like structure, open at one end,

having a mirror in the bottom, and having a supporting top of transparent material, with guide means for conveniently marking the cover cloth.

Another purpose is to provide an apparatus by the use .of which one may readily determine Whether the back strip and boards should be placed on the inside of the cover and in definite relation to a title on the outside.

Another purpose is to provide in such an apparatus an adjustable mirror.

Still another object is to provide means for throwing light on the mirror for reiiecting the light upwardly.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my marking apparatus, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a marking apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional, .detailed view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

5 Figure 3 is a top or plan view of the device.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the apparatus viewed from the open end of the device.

Figure 5 is a plan View of the outside or obverse side of a cover cloth for a book casing or COVBI.

Figure 6 isa plan view of the reverse side of the same cover cloth, after the markings have been made thereon; and

Figure 7 is a detailed, sectional View takenV on the line 'I--l of Figure 1.

As explained in the patent above referred to, there are numerous advantages in binding and particularly in rebinding books by the method disclosed therein.

Accor-ding to that method, cover cloths are cut to standard sizes and have illustrations placed on them, and have the titles placed on the back.

In order to accurately complete the case for the book, the board and back strip should be accurately placed with relation to the title on the back. In order to do this, the inside or obverse side of the cover cloth should be marked particularly to show the maximum width and location of the title, and preferably also to show the desired amount of turn-in at the top.

In Figure 5, I have shown the outside or obverse side of the cover cloth with the illustration and title thereon.

It is not easy to accurately place the markings on the inside. My present apparatus is particularly designed to accomplish this purpose.

My apparatus comprises a box-like structure of which the` essential features are the mirror below, a transparent support above, and the guides and perhaps also the lighting means.

For convenience, I have made the apparatus in the form of a box, having the spaced vertical sides I0, the bottom I I, one end member I2 and a transparent top I3.

'Ihe end of the box opposite the end I2 is open. For convenience, I call this the front end.

The bottom. II has an upstanding flange I4 at the front end. A mirror I5 is arranged face up in the bottom of the box substantially below the transparent support I3. At the rear end of the mirror, it rests upon a cross rod 23, which has formed at its ends crank arms I6 and I'I journaled in the walls I0. On the crank arm I 'I is a crank handle I8, by the manipulation of which the rod 23 can be raised or lowered with relation to the journals of its crank arms, for raising and lowering the rear end of the mirror.

The front end of the mirror rests against the flange I4. The mirror may be thus adjusted to different angles for the convenience of the operator.

A set screw I9 is mounted in the handle I8 so that its inner end may be screwed into or out of any one of a series of holes 20 in a curved metal strip 2I mounted on the outside of the wall I0 adjacent the swinging path of the handle I8. By means of the set screw, the rod 23 can be locked in its various positions of adjustment for thus holding the mirror at the desired angle.

The transparent support I3, which is preferably a sheet of clear glass may be supported at its side edges on bars 22, which are suitably secured to the side walls. The support I3 may be fastened to the bars 22 if desired. Supported at the top of the front of the box, preferably on the bars 22 is a transverse angle bar 25, having a front, upstanding flange, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Secured to the middle of the upstanding flange of the bar 25 is a guide bar 26 extending from the front to the rear end of the support I3 at the middle thereof, and preferably formed with a down-turned flange 25a at its rear end fastened to the end l2. The bar 2S serves as a guide and rule.

The bar 2S is supported high enough above the support i3 to permit a book cover blank resting on the support i3 to be slipped under the bar 25.

Suitably mounted adjacent the under side of the transparent support E3 and exactly parallel with the guide bar 26 is a lower guide bar 2t, which is of exactly the same width as the guide bar 26.

Secured to the upstanding flange of the angle bar 25 at the right end thereof as viewed in Figure l. is a guide bar A, comprising an upstanding flange 2l fastened to the bar 25 and a horizontal flange 28 extending rearwardly from the bar 25. At the rear part of the flange 23 it has a laterally extending straight finger 29 projecting toward the bar 25.

Near to but spaced from the forward end of the support E3, it is provided with straight transverse guide lines Si).

Projecting inwardly from the left side wall il] adjacent the rear end i2 and below the support i3 and supported on the wall EE! is an elongated light bulb 3l. Any source of light adaptable in any way proper for the purpose may be employed.

Supported on and extended from the wall l2 is a shield 32 to protect the user against direct glare.

Mode of use My improved marking apparatus is used for r marking book cover blanks 33, such as 'that illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

Assume that the obverse or front side of the cover blank 33 has been provided with an illustration 34 and with the title 35 printed substantially in the middle. In finishing the case or cover, back strip and boards must be glued to the reverse side of the cover blank, which is made of cloth or other suitable material. The back strip and boards must be accurately placed with relation to the location of the title 35. The boards should be spaced laterally equi-distantly from the title. In order to make this possible, I mark the reverse side of the cover blank with the vertical lines 36, which preferably mark the extreme limits of the width of the title 35.

This marking is done by placing the cover blank 33 outside or obverse side down on the support i3 with the top end of the cover blank toward the front end of the support. The cover blank thus arranged is shown in lull lines in Figure 2 and in dotted lines in Figures l and 3.

By looking into the front end of the box and at the reflection in the mirror, the operator can conveniently move the cover blank 33 rearwardly until one extreme end of the longest word in the title registers with an edge of the guide bar 2Q. Then a vertical line can be drawn along the corresponding edge of the guide bar 2E, and it will register through the cloth with the end of such longest word in the title on what will ultimately be the back of the book cover'. The cover blank can then be pushed the other way and the other vertical line 35 can be marked.

At the top of the blank, the nger 29 can be used for a transverse line 3l' along the reverse side of the cover blank to indicate the amount of turning in to be given to the cloth in completing the case.

The finger 29 is so arranged that when the top edge of the cover cloth is abutted against the upstanding flange of the bar 25, then the front face and the rear face of the finger 29 represent the appropriate distance of turn-in for the two widths commonly employed.

The cover blank as thus marked is ready for the addition of the paper back strip and the boards, which can be accurately placed on the reverse side so that in the finished book casing or cover, the title will be in the middle of the back of the book.

Heretofore in general practice, the case has been completed and then the title is put on the back. There are substantial advantages as set forth in the patent mentioned in printing the title on the cover blank where the back of the book will ultimately be, and thereafter completing the casing and binding the book in accordance with the location of the title.

My apparatus makes it possible to so mark the reverse side of the cover blank that this completion of the book cover in accordance with the location of the title previously printed thereon can be made accurate, certain and` convenient.

It will be observed that a` device of this kind having the transparent support and the mirror, and a guide, such as the member 26 in the form here shown or in any other suitable form, and a bar or stop, such as the guide bar 2G, either in the form here shown or in some other suitable form, may be employed for placing the back strip and boards without marking the inside of the cover cloth. For example, the cover cloth may be placed on the transparent member I3, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure l with the outer surface, having the title 35, down and with the upper edge spaced from the bar 25. The proper position of the upper edge can be determined by watching the top or front edge of the member i3, or by watching the edge of the bar A in the mirror.

The cover cloth can then be adjusted laterally and by observing the position of the member 26 with relation to the title, the cover cloth can be moved to position where the back strip can be accurately placed.

For example, if it is desired to place the back strip a quarter of an inch to the left from the W of the word Widow in the title on` the cover cloth 33, shown in Figure 5, the operator can` judge the position of the title by looking in the mirror, where` he can see the reflection of the title, and also the reflection of the member 26.

It will, of course, be understood that the title is not under the member 26 but spaced laterally therefrom when the back strip is pasted in position by the particular method last described.

It will be understood that the construction and arrangement of the parts of my improved marking apparatus may be changed considerab1y,-for example, lines etched or drawn on the transparent member I3 could be substituted for the guide 24. By guide means in claims 3 and 4 hereafter, I intend to cover any guide means adapted for the purpose, as for example, a bar 24 or the like below the transparent member, a bar 2E or the like above the transparent member, or lines on the transparent member, painted, etched or otherwise, or any other guide so associated with the transparent member and the mirror as to accomplish the purpose.

The materials used may be such as are suitable for the purpose.

It is my desire and purpose, however, to cover by the claims appended hereto any modifications of any kind in the materials used, the size and shape of the device and the construction and arrangement of the parts, which may be reasonably and properly included within the scope of my invention and of such claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a structure of the class described, adapted for use in the making of book covers, a suitably mounted transparent member adapted to support a book covering member in position so that the l0 under side of such book covering member can be observed through the transparent member, said structure having a guide, which may be observed from below the transparent member when a book covering member is on the transparent member for thus observing the location of matter on such under side of the book covering member with relation to the guide, and a parallel guide spaced above the transparent member suiciently to permit the cloth cover member to be slid freely under such last-named guide and to rest on the transparent member, whereby the last guide device may be used as a rule for marking or a stop for placing a book case part in a readily determined relation to lettering or other indicia on the under side of the book covering member.

2. In a structure for use in making book covers, a transparent member suitably supported and adapted to support a book covering member, parallel guide devices above and below the transparent member, a mirror located under the transparent member and arranged to reflect the image of the book covering member resting on the transparent member, the arrangement being such that a reflection by the mirror is visible from a point wholly at one side of the structure and without obstruction by the transparent member or anything thereon.

3. In a structure for use in making book covers, a suitably supported transparent member adapted to support a book covering member, said structure having guide means, visible from below the transparent member when a book covering member is on the transparent member, a mirror arranged to reflect the images of the side of a book covering member resting on the transparent member and said guide means, the arrangement being such that a reflection by the mirror of the book covering Vmember may be marked or l a cover case element can be placed thereon in denite relation to the position of any indicia on the under side of the book covering member, a guide device arranged substantially at right angles to said first guide device and spaced above the transparent member to permit a book covering member to be slid under it, and a stop for coasting With said second-named guide device.

4. In a structure for use in marking book covers, a member adapted to support a book covering member to permit indicia on the latter to be seen from below, said structure having a guide means Visible from below the supporting member when a book covering member is on the supporting member, a mirror arranged to reflect the images of the side of a book covering member resting on the first-named member and of said guide means, the arrangement being such that a reection by the mirror is visible from a point wholly on one side of the structure and without obstruction by the supporting member or anything on it, whereby a user can conveniently observe in the mirror the location of indicia on such side of the book cover member with relation to said guide, and a guide device parallel with said rst guide spaced above the supporting member to permit a book covering member to be placed on the supporting member under the last-described guide device, whereby the upper surface of the book covering member may be marked or a cover case element can be placed thereon in definite relation to the position of any indicia on the under side of the book covering member.

ERNEST HERTZBERG. 

